Pop goes the show -- and how!

By Lakshmi Balakrishnan

NEW DELHI, OCT. 6. It is a dream that has always gone ``pop'' for
Delhiites, and not without reason. Mumbai may get to sway to the
beats of the ``King of Pop'', Bangalore may rock to the changing
tunes and colours of Deep Purple, but Delhi beats them all in the
game by clinging on to the bhangra boys and making audiences not
just hear but also see the ``blues'' every time a music show is
held here.

For those who always wondered why Delhi never managed to get a
``BA'' in music the Bryan Adams way, the answer is straight and
simple: Life in the Capital may come with a package of many
benefits, but when it comes to music, it also comes with the
additional baggage of over-enthusiastic VIPs, policemen and civic
authorities who insist on getting entertained free of charge.

The best place to hold stage shows of Bollywood and Indi-Pop
stars is how event management groups describe Delhi. But mention
international pop stars and the smiles suddenly disappear.
``Delhi does not have an audience with that kind of taste in
music'' is the argument that all organisers offer, but scratch
the surface a little and the seriousness of the situation comes
through.

The last big show the city saw was the Roshan Show. Hrithik
Roshan's presence was enough to draw huge crowds; only, there
were many music freaks that the organisers had completely
forgotten to include.

``It was definitely a hit show. But one that was completely taken
over by the police. Almost every policeman had some of his kith
and kin stationed at the gate. Even as those with tickets were
barred from entering, the policemen on duty ensured seats for
their families,'' recalls an executive of the PR firm which
handled the show for the Roshans.

With almost all the policemen on duty entering the stadium to
catch a glimpse of Hrithik, there were obviously not many to take
care of law and order outside. Add to it the number of government
officials who will do anything to ensure a pass and things get
truly out of hand.

Move from the Roshan Show in February to the Vengaboys Show in
April, and the fact that Delhi has a different segregation of
music lovers becomes doubly clear.

``It is not as if Mumbai or Bangalore don't pose similar
problems. But considering the number of VIPs who have to be
appeased for organising one big show in Delhi, the other two
cities always win'' is how a senior official of Pepsi, which
sponsored both the Vengaboys and Bryan Adams shows, puts it.

The number of pop stars who have visited Bangalore this year is
enough to realise how much Delhiites missed. King of rap
H.C.Hammer performed live in February, and then it was Bryan
Adams, followed by Deep Purple.

And all this while Delhi was dancing to the tunes of Indi- Pop
stars. Event management companies say Delhi has a big market for
Indian music. The coming week will have Adnan Sami and Shankar
Mahadevan enthrall music lovers in Delhi while subsequent weeks
will have Daler Mehendi and the evergreen Asha Bhosle perform
live. Sadly for lovers of international music, the much promised
Bryan Adams show in Delhi this winter seems on the verge of
cancellation.